diff --git a/public/break_escape/js/core/player.js b/public/break_escape/js/core/player.js
index 76d2526..4746710 100644
--- a/public/break_escape/js/core/player.js
+++ b/public/break_escape/js/core/player.js
@@ -311,6 +311,25 @@ function getAnimationKey(direction) {
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Map player directions to compass directions for punch animations
+ * @param {string} direction - Player direction (down, up, left, right, down-left, etc.)
+ * @returns {string} - Compass direction (south, north, west, east, south-west, etc.)
+ */
+function mapPlayerDirectionToCompass(direction) {
+    const directionMap = {
+        'right': 'east',
+        'left': 'west',
+        'up': 'north',
+        'down': 'south',
+        'up-right': 'north-east',
+        'up-left': 'north-west',
+        'down-right': 'south-east',
+        'down-left': 'south-west'
+    };
+    return directionMap[direction] || 'south';
+}
+
 function updateAnimationSpeed(isRunning) {
     // Update animation speed based on whether player is running
     if (!player || !player.anims) {
@@ -673,9 +692,10 @@ export function updatePlayerMovement() {
     if (player.body.velocity.x === 0 && player.body.velocity.y === 0 && player.isMoving) {
         player.isMoving = false;
         const animDir = getAnimationKey(player.direction);
-        // Don't interrupt punch animations
+        // Don't interrupt special animations: punch, death, hit, etc.
         const currentAnim = player.anims.currentAnim?.key || '';
-        if (!currentAnim.includes('punch') && !currentAnim.includes('jab')) {
+        if (!currentAnim.includes('punch') && !currentAnim.includes('jab') &&
+            !currentAnim.includes('death') && !currentAnim.includes('taking-punch')) {
             player.anims.play(`idle-${animDir}`, true);
         }
     }
@@ -754,23 +774,23 @@ function updatePlayerKeyboardMovement() {
             player.isMoving = false;
             const animDir = getAnimationKey(player.direction);
             player.anims.stop(); // Stop current animation
-            // Don't interrupt punch animations
+            // Don't interrupt special animations: punch, death, hit, etc.
             const currentAnim = player.anims.currentAnim?.key || '';
-            if (!currentAnim.includes('punch') && !currentAnim.includes('jab')) {
+            if (!currentAnim.includes('punch') && !currentAnim.includes('jab') && 
+                !currentAnim.includes('death') && !currentAnim.includes('taking-punch')) {
                 player.anims.play(`idle-${animDir}`, true);
             }
         }
     } else if (isBlocked) {
-        // Blocked by collision - play idle animation in the direction we're facing
-        if (player.isMoving) {
-            player.isMoving = false;
+        // Blocked by collision - preserve special animations but switch walk to idle
+        player.isMoving = false;
+        const currentAnim = player.anims.currentAnim?.key || '';
+        
+        // Only change animation if it's a walk animation
+        // Preserve punch, jab, death, taking-punch, etc.
+        if (currentAnim.includes('walk')) {
             const animDir = getAnimationKey(player.direction);
-            player.anims.stop(); // Stop current animation
-            // Don't interrupt punch animations
-            const currentAnim = player.anims.currentAnim?.key || '';
-            if (!currentAnim.includes('punch') && !currentAnim.includes('jab')) {
-                player.anims.play(`idle-${animDir}`, true);
-            }
+            player.anims.play(`idle-${animDir}`, true);
         }
     } else if (absVX > absVY * 2) {
         // Mostly horizontal movement
@@ -784,9 +804,20 @@ function updatePlayerKeyboardMovement() {
         player.setFlipX(shouldFlip);
         
         if (!player.isMoving || player.lastDirection !== player.direction) {
-            // Don't interrupt punch animations
             const currentAnim = player.anims.currentAnim?.key || '';
-            if (!currentAnim.includes('punch') && !currentAnim.includes('jab')) {
+            
+            // If punching, restart punch animation in new direction
+            if (currentAnim.includes('punch') || currentAnim.includes('jab')) {
+                const animType = currentAnim.includes('cross-punch') ? 'cross-punch' : 'lead-jab';
+                const compassDir = mapPlayerDirectionToCompass(player.direction);
+                const newPunchKey = `${animType}_${compassDir}`;
+                
+                if (gameRef.anims.exists(newPunchKey)) {
+                    player.anims.play(newPunchKey, true);
+                    console.log(`🥊 Direction changed during punch, restarting: ${newPunchKey}`);
+                }
+            } else {
+                // Normal walk animation
                 player.anims.play(`walk-${animDir}`, true);
             }
             player.isMoving = true;
@@ -798,9 +829,20 @@ function updatePlayerKeyboardMovement() {
         player.setFlipX(false);
         
         if (!player.isMoving || player.lastDirection !== player.direction) {
-            // Don't interrupt punch animations
             const currentAnim = player.anims.currentAnim?.key || '';
-            if (!currentAnim.includes('punch') && !currentAnim.includes('jab')) {
+            
+            // If punching, restart punch animation in new direction
+            if (currentAnim.includes('punch') || currentAnim.includes('jab')) {
+                const animType = currentAnim.includes('cross-punch') ? 'cross-punch' : 'lead-jab';
+                const compassDir = mapPlayerDirectionToCompass(player.direction);
+                const newPunchKey = `${animType}_${compassDir}`;
+                
+                if (gameRef.anims.exists(newPunchKey)) {
+                    player.anims.play(newPunchKey, true);
+                    console.log(`🥊 Direction changed during punch, restarting: ${newPunchKey}`);
+                }
+            } else {
+                // Normal walk animation
                 player.anims.play(`walk-${player.direction}`, true);
             }
             player.isMoving = true;
@@ -822,9 +864,20 @@ function updatePlayerKeyboardMovement() {
         player.setFlipX(shouldFlip);
         
         if (!player.isMoving || player.lastDirection !== player.direction) {
-            // Don't interrupt punch animations
             const currentAnim = player.anims.currentAnim?.key || '';
-            if (!currentAnim.includes('punch') && !currentAnim.includes('jab')) {
+            
+            // If punching, restart punch animation in new direction
+            if (currentAnim.includes('punch') || currentAnim.includes('jab')) {
+                const animType = currentAnim.includes('cross-punch') ? 'cross-punch' : 'lead-jab';
+                const compassDir = mapPlayerDirectionToCompass(player.direction);
+                const newPunchKey = `${animType}_${compassDir}`;
+                
+                if (gameRef.anims.exists(newPunchKey)) {
+                    player.anims.play(newPunchKey, true);
+                    console.log(`🥊 Direction changed during punch, restarting: ${newPunchKey}`);
+                }
+            } else {
+                // Normal walk animation
                 player.anims.play(`walk-${baseDir}`, true);
             }
             player.isMoving = true;
@@ -840,9 +893,10 @@ function updatePlayerMouseMovement() {
             player.isMoving = false;
             
             // Play idle animation based on last direction
-            // Don't interrupt punch animations
+            // Don't interrupt special animations: punch, death, hit, etc.
             const currentAnim = player.anims.currentAnim?.key || '';
-            if (!currentAnim.includes('punch') && !currentAnim.includes('jab')) {
+            if (!currentAnim.includes('punch') && !currentAnim.includes('jab') &&
+                !currentAnim.includes('death') && !currentAnim.includes('taking-punch')) {
                 player.anims.play(`idle-${player.direction}`, true);
             }
         }
@@ -869,9 +923,10 @@ function updatePlayerMouseMovement() {
             player.isMoving = false;
             const animDir = getAnimationKey(player.direction);
             player.anims.stop(); // Stop current animation
-            // Don't interrupt punch animations
+            // Don't interrupt special animations: punch, death, hit, etc.
             const currentAnim = player.anims.currentAnim?.key || '';
-            if (!currentAnim.includes('punch') && !currentAnim.includes('jab')) {
+            if (!currentAnim.includes('punch') && !currentAnim.includes('jab') &&
+                !currentAnim.includes('death') && !currentAnim.includes('taking-punch')) {
                 player.anims.play(`idle-${animDir}`, true);
             }
         }
@@ -918,9 +973,20 @@ function updatePlayerMouseMovement() {
     
     // Play appropriate animation if not already playing
     if (!player.isMoving || player.lastDirection !== player.direction) {
-        // Don't interrupt punch animations
         const currentAnim = player.anims.currentAnim?.key || '';
-        if (!currentAnim.includes('punch') && !currentAnim.includes('jab')) {
+        
+        // If punching, restart punch animation in new direction
+        if (currentAnim.includes('punch') || currentAnim.includes('jab')) {
+            const animType = currentAnim.includes('cross-punch') ? 'cross-punch' : 'lead-jab';
+            const compassDir = mapPlayerDirectionToCompass(player.direction);
+            const newPunchKey = `${animType}_${compassDir}`;
+            
+            if (gameRef.anims.exists(newPunchKey)) {
+                player.anims.play(newPunchKey, true);
+                console.log(`🥊 Mouse movement: direction changed during punch, restarting: ${newPunchKey}`);
+            }
+        } else {
+            // Normal walk animation
             player.anims.play(`walk-${player.direction}`, true);
         }
         player.isMoving = true;
@@ -931,15 +997,13 @@ function updatePlayerMouseMovement() {
     if (player.body.blocked.none === false) {
         isMoving = false;
         player.body.setVelocity(0, 0);
-        if (player.isMoving) {
-            player.isMoving = false;
+        player.isMoving = false;
+        
+        // Switch walk animations to idle, but preserve special animations
+        const currentAnim = player.anims.currentAnim?.key || '';
+        if (currentAnim.includes('walk')) {
             const animDir = getAnimationKey(player.direction);
-            player.anims.stop(); // Stop current animation
-            // Don't interrupt punch animations
-            const currentAnim = player.anims.currentAnim?.key || '';
-            if (!currentAnim.includes('punch') && !currentAnim.includes('jab')) {
-                player.anims.play(`idle-${animDir}`, true);
-            }
+            player.anims.play(`idle-${animDir}`, true);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/public/break_escape/js/systems/player-effects.js b/public/break_escape/js/systems/player-effects.js
index d612038..16d046c 100644
--- a/public/break_escape/js/systems/player-effects.js
+++ b/public/break_escape/js/systems/player-effects.js
@@ -102,57 +102,80 @@ export function createPlayerBumpEffect() {
                     steppedOverItems.delete(itemId);
                 }, 2000);
                 
-                // Replace red tint effect with punch animation (cross-punch or lead-jab)
+                // Create hop effect when stepping over item
                 isPlayerBumping = true;
                 
-                // Map player direction to atlas compass direction
-                const directionMap = {
-                    'right': 'east',
-                    'left': 'west',
-                    'up': 'north',
-                    'down': 'south',
-                    'up-right': 'north-east',
-                    'up-left': 'north-west',
-                    'down-right': 'south-east',
-                    'down-left': 'south-west'
+                // Create a visual overlay sprite that follows the player
+                if (playerVisualOverlay) {
+                    playerVisualOverlay.destroy();
+                }
+                
+                playerVisualOverlay = gameRef.add.sprite(player.x, player.y, player.texture.key);
+                playerVisualOverlay.setFrame(player.frame.name);
+                playerVisualOverlay.setScale(player.scaleX, player.scaleY);
+                playerVisualOverlay.setFlipX(player.flipX);
+                playerVisualOverlay.setFlipY(player.flipY);
+                playerVisualOverlay.setDepth(player.depth + 1);
+                playerVisualOverlay.setAlpha(0.8);
+                
+                // Hide the original player temporarily
+                player.setAlpha(0);
+                
+                // Small hop when stepping over items
+                const hopHeight = -15; // Smaller than spacebar jump
+                
+                console.log(`🦘 Stepping over item: ${itemId}, creating hop effect`);
+                
+                // Start the hop animation
+                if (playerBumpTween) {
+                    playerBumpTween.destroy();
+                }
+                
+                playerBumpTween = gameRef.tweens.add({
+                    targets: { hopOffset: 0 },
+                    hopOffset: hopHeight,
+                    duration: 120, // Faster than spacebar jump
+                    ease: 'Power2',
+                    yoyo: true,
+                    onUpdate: (tween) => {
+                        if (playerVisualOverlay && playerVisualOverlay.active) {
+                            playerVisualOverlay.setY(player.y + tween.getValue());
+                        }
+                    },
+                    onComplete: () => {
+                        // Clean up overlay and restore player
+                        if (playerVisualOverlay) {
+                            playerVisualOverlay.destroy();
+                            playerVisualOverlay = null;
+                        }
+                        player.setAlpha(1);
+                        isPlayerBumping = false;
+                        playerBumpTween = null;
+                    }
+                });
+                
+                // Make overlay follow player movement during hop
+                const followPlayer = () => {
+                    if (playerVisualOverlay && playerVisualOverlay.active) {
+                        playerVisualOverlay.setX(player.x);
+                        playerVisualOverlay.setFlipX(player.flipX);
+                        playerVisualOverlay.setFlipY(player.flipY);
+                    }
                 };
-                const compassDir = directionMap[player.direction] || 'south';
                 
-                // Try to play punch/jab animation if available
-                const crossPunchKey = `cross-punch_${compassDir}`;
-                const leadJabKey = `lead-jab_${compassDir}`;
+                // Update overlay position every frame
+                const followInterval = setInterval(() => {
+                    if (!playerVisualOverlay || !playerVisualOverlay.active) {
+                        clearInterval(followInterval);
+                        return;
+                    }
+                    followPlayer();
+                }, 16);
                 
-                let animPlayed = false;
-                
-                // Try cross-punch animation first
-                if (gameRef.anims.exists(crossPunchKey)) {
-                    player.anims.play(crossPunchKey, true);
-                    animPlayed = true;
-                    console.log(`🥊 Bump: Playing cross-punch animation: ${crossPunchKey}`);
-                }
-                // Fall back to lead-jab animation
-                else if (gameRef.anims.exists(leadJabKey)) {
-                    player.anims.play(leadJabKey, true);
-                    animPlayed = true;
-                    console.log(`🥊 Bump: Playing lead-jab animation: ${leadJabKey}`);
-                }
-                
-                if (animPlayed) {
-                    // Restore to idle after animation completes
-                    player.once('animationcomplete', () => {
-                        const animDir = typeof getAnimationKey === 'function' ? getAnimationKey(player.direction) : player.direction;
-                        player.anims.play(`idle-${animDir}`, true);
-                        isPlayerBumping = false;
-                    });
-                } else {
-                    // Fallback: flash red tint for 120ms if no animation available
-                    console.log(`⚠️ No punch animations found (tried ${crossPunchKey}, ${leadJabKey}), using red tint fallback`);
-                    player.setTint(0xff4444);
-                    setTimeout(() => {
-                        player.clearTint();
-                        isPlayerBumping = false;
-                    }, 120);
-                }
+                // Clean up interval
+                setTimeout(() => {
+                    clearInterval(followInterval);
+                }, 220);
             }
         });
     });